A Compact Bass Synth with a Unique Analog Filter

anode is part analog, part digital, capable of producing a range of uniquely aggressive, bass-heavy sounds. And inspired by the best classic synths of the past, getting your hands on that sound is always simple, direct, and intuitive. Simply plug in a keyboard, computer, iPad (via adapter), or controller via the MIDI port to play notes. Then, adjust sounds via knobs and switches – you don’t need to navigate a single menu.

Its digital side reproduces the sound and architecture of classic synthesizers, but with an emphasis on adding personality, especially in the low end. Its all-new analog filter with resonance can range from smooth to raunchy – perfect for shaping sound or making squelchy basslines.

Primary features:

Digital oscillators meet an original analog filter

Compact, 4” x 4” case (approx. 100 x 100 mm)

Modulation, envelope, tuning, and pulse width controls

Open source hardware, but fully-assembled and ready to play

MIDI input for compatibility with vintage and modern hardware, computers, and (with a compatible adapter) iPad and iPhone

anode comes fully assembled and ready to use. But because it’s open source hardware, users can learn from anode by looking through the code and circuits, modifying how it works, or even creating their own instruments based on the design.

More Sound, Less Space

MeeBlip is a synth designed to make more and better sounds, with fewer controls in less space. It’s designed to have personality in a world awash with synth choices. To create something smaller and simpler, we’ve focused on building an instrument that delivers grungy, dirty, bass-heavy sounds right away, and puts those sounds directly under your fingers. And we fit it all in a rugged, small and simple 4″ x 4″ (100×100 mm) box, focusing on just the controls you really need for sound.

Hack It

As with MeeBlip SE, MeeBlip anode is fully-assembled and ready to go. We believe there are benefits of being open for everyone, not just those who can program or solder. But it’s also open when you want it to be – and, just like all the MeeBlips, fully open source hardware (GPLv3/CC-BY-SA). You get an instrument that can be modified, with a design you can learn from, that’s future-proofed by being available to a community of musicians.

anode’s hardware itself is also more hackable than MeeBlips before. Intrepid hardware lovers can try changing component values to modify the filter – for the first time, this is a MeeBlip with analog mods possible as well as digital. And we have new opportunities for transforming the code. There’s still a programmer port, for modifying the firmware via an inexpensive hardware adapter or an Arduino.

Complete specifications

4″x4″ compact, rugged and road-worthy case.

Total hands-on control via full-sized, great-feeling knobs and switches. No “shift” switches or menus to navigate: get directly to the sound.

Dual digital pulse oscillators, derived from the original MeeBlip. Aliasing at the low end, anti-aliasing at higher ranges, for perfect bass sounds and terrific leads alike.

An original, all-analog filter with resonance. (It’s a new Twin-T VCF, designed especially to be aggressive for bass sounds.)

MIDI control of all parameters, with the exception of (analog) filter resonance.

1/8″ audio output.

North American or European/UK power adapter included.

Fully open source hardware, released under a GPLv3 and Creative Commons BY-SA license. Modify the firmware if you choose via the onboard hack port; browse or fork us at GitHub.

The MeeBlip Team

We’re really excited to get to share anode with you, having spent two years in the process of making it. As with earlier MeeBlips, anode is engineered in Canada by James Grahame, and co-designed by Peter Kirn for CDM.